Frampton

Frampton is a parish in West Dorset on the River Frome, 5½ miles north west from Dorchester on the Crewkerne road. Frampton is mentioned in the Domesday Book and at one time there was a priory here. After the Dissolution the lands were passed to the Browne family who remained lords of the manor until 1833, it then passed to the Sheridans. The principal residence for many years was Frampton Court, built by Robert Browne in 1704 and demolished in 1932 after the estate was sold to pay death duties. Around 1840 the then-owner of the Court had many houses in the village (on the south side of the main road) demolished and replaced with trees, to improve the view from the Court.

The name of the village is believed to be a derivation of "Frome Town".

All photographs  © Lynda Small 2003  

Although there has probably been a church here since Saxon times, the present church dedicated to St Mary dates from the 14th Century but has experienced many rebuildings and additions. The registers date from 1627. There was a National School, Almshouses and the Red Lion Coaching Inn, all these buildings remain but now have different uses. The parish covers 3508 acres and corn and grass were the main crops. In 1821 the population was 418 with 387 in 1891.

The small hamlet of Southover is also part of Frampton and the cottages there were provided for the workers of the two farms which worked Southover including the Farm Bailiffs cottage near the end of the lane.

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